TUNIS: Tunisia’s tourism revenues have risen 19 percent so far this year, reflecting a recovery in a vital sector crippled two years ago by attacks on foreign holidaymakers.
Tourism Minister Salma Loumi said 4.58 million foreign tourists visited the North African country between Jan. 1 and Aug. 10. Arrivals from neighboring Algeria were up 60 percent, helped by a promotional campaign by Tunisia, while visits by European tourists rose 16 percent.
“There are good indicators, revenues rose by 19 percent to 1.5 billion Tunisian dinars ($613 million),” Loumi told reporters on Tuesday.
Tunisian officials expect the number of foreign tourists to rise to 6.5 million this year, up about 30 percent from 2016, due to an improving security situation and interest from new markets including Russia.
That would mark a return to normal, although below a record 6.9 million visitors seen in 2010.
Tourism accounts for about 8 percent of Tunisia’s gross domestic product, provides thousands of jobs and is a key source of foreign currency, but it has struggled since two major attacks in 2015.
The first at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis left 21 tourists dead, while 39 mostly British holidaymakers were killed in the second attack on a beach in the resort city of Sousse.
Last month, however, Britain’s foreign office said it was no longer advising against travel to most of the North African country including the capital Tunis and major tourist destinations.
Tour operator Thomas Cook has said it will resume offering holidays in Tunisia following the change.
Tunisia’s tourism ministry said it expected the company to start offering flights to Tunisia from February 2018.
The government expects rising tourism to help Tunisia’s economy grow 2.5 percent this year, after a 1 percent expansion last year.
Tunisia’s tourism revenues rebound
Tunisia’s tourism revenues rebound
Saudi Arabia’s FMF concludes with over $26.6bn in agreements
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said it secured more than SR100 billion ($26.6 billion) in agreements and memorandums of understanding at the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum, underscoring the Kingdom’s push to position mining as a key pillar of its economic diversification strategy.
The forum, held in Riyadh under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, drew representatives from around 100 countries and attracted about 21,500 participants, according to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
The government has identified mining as a priority sector as it seeks to reduce reliance on oil and strengthen global supply chains for critical minerals.
The agreements signed during the forum span the full mining value chain, including exploration, extraction, and mineral processing, as well as manufacturing, research and development, innovation, and sustainability.
The ministry said the breadth of the deals highlights efforts to accelerate sector development while attracting long-term domestic and foreign investment.
Participants included ministers, senior government officials, executives from major global mining companies, and investors, as well as academics and technical experts. More than 450 speakers took part in ministerial roundtables, panel discussions and technical sessions.
An international exhibition formed a key part of the event, featuring 274 exhibitors from 13 countries, including Australia, the US, and the UK, as well as France, Germany, and several emerging mining markets.
The exhibition was organized across four main zones covering exploration and mining, processing and manufacturing, advanced technologies and innovation, and investment and partnerships.
Forum discussions focused on strengthening cross-border cooperation across mineral supply chains, accelerating exploration activity, and improving access to financing, as well as promoting sustainable and responsible mining practices.
Sessions also examined the growing role of digital tools, automation and artificial intelligence in enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making in the sector.
The ministry said the scale of agreements announced at the forum provides a foundation for sustained growth and supports the Kingdom’s long-term objective of becoming a global hub for mining and mineral processing, at a time of rising international demand for critical and strategic minerals.
The ministry also highlighted the rapid evolution of the Future Minerals Forum over its five editions, describing it as a platform that has transitioned from a regional gathering into a global convening point for policymakers and industry leaders.
